Enhanced content consumption

ABSTRACT

Enhanced content consumption is provided by establishing a pairing between two computing devices, wherein at least one of the two computing devices provides a primary consumption experience of a digital content item, so that a secondary consumption experience can be provided via operation of at least one of the two computing devices. The method further comprises presenting, using at least one of the two computing devices, the digital content item for consumption by a user. The method further comprises performing one or more supplemental consumption functions with the other of the two computing devices.

BACKGROUND

A consumption experience for content such as music, video, movies,television, applications, games, etc. may be provided by a suitablecomputing device such as a television, personal computer, laptop, mediaplayer, mobile device, etc. h is not uncommon for a user to have morethan one such device, and in some cases, two or more of the devices maybe paired with one another. Further, in some consumption contentscenarios, a consumption experience may have an additional supplementalexperience that is related to the primary consumption experience.However, the device pairing and supplemental experience functionalitiesare typically separate.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect of this disclosure, a method of enhancingconsumption of digital content items using two or more computing devicesis provided. The method comprises establishing a pairing between twocomputing devices, wherein at least one of the two computing devicesprovides a primary consumption experience of a digital content item, sothat a secondary consumption experience can be provided via operation ofat least one of the two computing devices. The method further comprisespresenting, using at least one of the two computing devices, the digitalcontent item for consumption by a user. The method further comprisesperforming one or more supplemental consumption functions with the otherof the two computing devices.

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the DetailedDescription. This Summary is not intended to identify key features oressential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended tobe used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Furthermore,the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solveany or all disadvantages noted in any part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an example computing system in accordance with anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 shows a flow diagram of an example method of enhancingconsumption of digital content.

FIG. 3 shows an example use scenario in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 4 shows another example use scenario in accordance with anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 shows a timeline of yet another example use scenario inaccordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 shows a flow diagram of an example process flow in accordancewith an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It is becoming increasingly common for a user to have more than onecomputing device for content consumption. However, traditionally,content consumption across multiple screens may either not be providedwithin traditional content consumption scenarios, or may besubstantially ad-hoc. Therefore, it is desirable to provide amulti-screen consumption experience which enhances the overall userexperience for the user.

Therefore, embodiments are disclosed herein that relate to enhancedcontent consumption, wherein content consumption is enhanced within anenvironment of two or more paired computing devices by providing asecondary consumption experience which enhances a primary consumptionexperience of a digital content item. Such secondary consumptionexperiences may include, for example, interactive supporting experienceswhich extend the primary consumption experience for the user and/or maynot detriment the primary viewing experience for others. Further, thepairing allows for a level of fidelity of the secondary consumptionexperience to be determined used on capabilities learned during pairing,in some embodiments.

FIG. 1 shows an example computing system 100 for enhancing consumptionof digital content items. Computing system 100 may be a computing devicesuch as a television, personal computer, laptop, media player, mobiledevice, gaming device/console, etc. that is configured to consumecontent such as music, video, movies, television, applications, games,etc.

Computing system 100 is shown in simplified form. It is to be understoodthat virtually any computer architecture may be used without departingfrom the scope of this disclosure, in different embodiments, computingsystem 100 may take the form of a mainframe computer, server computer,desktop computer, laptop computer, tablet computer, home entertainmentcomputer, network computing device, mobile computing device, mobilecommunication device, gaming device, etc. Further, computing system 100may include one or more computing devices and/or server devicescommunicatively coupled with one another.

Computing system 100 includes a processor 102 and a data-holdingsubsystem 104. Computing system 100 may optionally include a displaysubsystem 106, communication subsystem 108, and/or other components notshown in FIG. 1. Computing system 100 may also optionally include userinput devices such as keyboards, mice, game controllers, cameras,microphones, and/or touch screens or other haptic devices, for example.

Computing system 100 may be configured to enhance content consumption inany suitable way, such as by executing instructions. As such, computingsystem 100 further includes a processor 102 which may include one ormore physical devices configured to execute one or more instructions.For example, the processor may be configured to execute one or moreinstructions that are part of one or more applications, services,programs, routines, libraries, objects, components, data structures, orother logical constructs. Such instructions may be implemented toperform a task, implement a data type, transform the state of one ormore devices, or otherwise arrive at a desired result.

The processor may include one or more processors that are configured toexecute software instructions. Additionally or alternatively, theprocessor may include one or more hardware or firmware logic machinesconfigured to execute hardware or firmware instructions. Processors ofthe processor may be single core or multicore, and the programs executedthereon may be configured for parallel or distributed processing. Theprocessor may optionally include individual components that aredistributed throughout two or more devices, which may be remotelylocated and/or configured for coordinated processing. One or moreaspects of the processor may be virtualized and executed by remotelyaccessible networked computing devices configured in a cloud computingconfiguration.

Data-holding subsystem 104 may include one or more physical,non-transitory, devices configured to hold data and/or instructionsexecutable by the processor to implement the herein described methodsand processes. When such methods and processes are implemented, thestate of data-holding subsystem 104 may be transformed (e.g., to holddifferent data).

Data-holding subsystem 104 may include removable media and/or built-indevices. Data-holding subsystem 104 may include optical memory devices(e.g., CD, DVD, HD-DVD, Blu-Ray Disc, etc.), semiconductor memorydevices (e.g., RAM, EPROM, EEPROM, etc.) and/or magnetic memory devices(e.g., hard disk drive, floppy disk drive, tape drive, MRAM, etc.),among others. Data-holding subsystem 104 may include devices with one ormore of the following characteristics: volatile, nonvolatile, dynamic,static, read/write, read-only, random access, sequential access,location addressable, file addressable, and content addressable. In someembodiments, processor 102 and data-holding subsystem 104 may beintegrated into one or more common devices, such as an applicationspecific integrated circuit or a system on a chip.

As a nonlimiting example, data-holding subsystem 104 may holdinstructions 110 executable by processor 102 for enhancing consumptionof digital content items. As such, computing system 100 is configured toestablish a pairing between two or more computing devices. In such acase, at least one of the computing devices provides a primaryconsumption experience of a digital content item. By establishing such apairing, at least one of the two computing devices may learncapabilities of the other of the two computing devices, so that asecondary consumption experience can be provided (e.g., via operation ofat least one of the devices). In some embodiments, computing system 100may be configured to establish such a pairing via a pairing engine 112.As described in more detail below, in some embodiments a pairing may beestablished via a proxy server running on the Internet. As such, aservice running in the cloud may know the capabilities of the twodevices, but each of the two devices may not be aware of the other'scapabilities. It is to be appreciated that a “service”, as used herein,may be an application program executable across multiple user sessionsand available to one or more system components, programs, and/or otherservices. In some implementations, a service may run on a serverresponsive to a request from a client.

In the case that computing system 100 represents a computing deviceproviding a primary consumption experience, computing system 100 mayestablish pairing with another computing device (e.g., a companioncomputing device). However, in the case that computing system 100represents a companion device, computing system 100 may establishpairing with the device providing the primary consumption experience. Asyet another example, computing system 100 may be an entertainment systemfacilitating the pairing between two other computing devices.

By establishing the pairing, at least one of the two computing deviceslearns capabilities of the other of the two computing devices, in someembodiments. It should be appreciated that such learning is nonlimiting.For example, in some embodiments, one of the computing devices maysimply send commands to the other computing device, and the othercomputing device may choose to display or ignore the commands based onits capabilities. Further yet, in some embodiments, such learning mayinclude a two-way communication wherein each device learns thecapabilities of the other device. Such an intelligent pairing allows fora secondary consumption experience to then be provided via operation ofat least one of the computing devices. As described in more detailherein, such secondary consumption experiences may enhance the primaryconsumption experience in any of a variety of possible ways, such as byproviding content and/or features (e.g., context-specific displays,commands, etc.) at a companion device paired to the device providing theprimary consumption experience. Further, in some embodiments, thepairing may be turned off by one or more of the computing devices.

For example, input control may be provided at the companion device forcontrolling aspects of the primary consumption experience. As anotherexample, the companion device may have the capability to act as amaster, and may take over control of the primary experience and/or othercomputing device(s). As yet another example, a deeper/richer experiencemay be provided at the companion device which “lights up” the primaryconsumption experience (e.g., by providing director's cut information,relevant information/trivia, a time-synchronized party-chat mode, etc.).As yet another example, interactions that may otherwise interfere withthe primary consumption experience may be offloaded to the companiondevice, so as to enhance the user experience. As yet another example,two users may consume the same primary experience together, but may eachhave a different secondary experience on a companion device which iscontextually relevant to them. It should be appreciated that theseexamples are illustrative and not intended to be limiting in any way.

It should also be appreciated that as used herein, the term “companiondevice” is used to describe at a computing device intelligently pairedto another computing device which is providing a primary consumptionexperience, and such a companion device may provide the secondaryconsumption experience. However, if the capabilities of the companiondevice are sufficient to provide the primary consumption experience,then the companion device may additionally or alternatively provide theprimary consumption experience.

Continuing with FIG. 1, computing system 100 is further configured topresent the digital content item for consumption by a user (e.g., viapresentation engine 114). For the case that computing system 100represents one of the two computing devices, then presenting the digitalcontent item may include presenting the digital content item on adisplay of computing system 100 or another display communicativelycoupled with computing system 100. In some embodiments, a displaysubsystem 106 may be used to present a visual representation of dataheld by data-holding subsystem 104. As the herein described methods andprocesses change the data held by the data-holding subsystem, and thustransform the state of the data-holding subsystem, the state of displaysubsystem 106 may likewise be transformed to visually represent changesin the underlying data. Display subsystem 106 may include one or moredisplay devices utilizing virtually any type of technology. Such displaydevices may be combined with processor 102 and/or data-holding subsystem104 in a shared enclosure, or such display devices may be peripheraldisplay devices.

However, for the case that computing system 100 represents anentertainment system facilitating such presentation, computing system100 may present the digital content item to one of the two computingdevices for display using one of the two computing devices.

Computing system 100 is further configured to perform one or moresupplemental consumption functions with the other of the two computingdevices (e.g., via a supplemental consumption function engine 116). Thesupplemental consumption function(s) are then implemented based oncapabilities that have been learned during the pairing of the twocomputing devices. Performing the supplemental consumption function mayestablish, for example, a secondary consumption experience at acompanion device.

As a nonlimiting example, a companion device may report its capabilitiesto the device providing the primary consumption experience, and thedevice providing the primary consumption experience may then send asecondary consumption experience having an appropriate level of fidelityto the companion device. However, for the case of computing system 100being an entertainment system associated with system-level events, thesystem may provide the secondary consumption experience having anappropriate level of fidelity to the companion device. Performing thesupplemental consumption function is described in greater detail belowwith reference to FIG. 2.

It should be appreciated that the terms “module,” “program,” and“engine” may be used to describe an aspect of computing system 100 thatis implemented to perform one or more particular functions. In somecases, such a module, program, or engine may be instantiated viaprocessor 102 executing instructions held by data-holding subsystem 104.It is to be understood that different modules, programs, and/or enginesmay be instantiated from the same application, service, code block,object, library, routine, API, function, etc. Likewise, the same module,program, and/or engine may be instantiated by different applications,services, code blocks, objects, routines, APIs, functions, etc. Theterms “module,” “program,” and “engine” are meant to encompassindividual or groups of executable files, data files, libraries,drivers, scripts, database records, etc.

FIG. 1 also shows an aspect of the data-holding subsystem in the form ofremovable computer-readable storage media 118, which may be used tostore and/or transfer data and/or instructions executable to implementthe herein described methods and processes. Removable computer-readablestorage media 118 may take the form of CDs, DVDs, HD-DVDs, Biu-RayDiscs, EEPROMs, and/or floppy disks, among others.

When included, communication subsystem 108 may be configured tocommunicatively couple computing system 100 with one or more othercomputing devices. Such a subsystem may, for example, aid inestablishing the pairing between two or more devices and/or facilitatesubsequent sending/receiving of information. Communication subsystem 108may include wired and/or wireless communication devices compatible withone or more different communication protocols, either directly orthrough a proxy server, for example. As nonlimiting examples, thecommunication subsystem may be configured for communication via awireless telephone network, a wireless local area network, a wired localarea network, a wireless wide area network, a wired wide area network,etc. in some embodiments, the communication subsystem may allowcomputing system 100 to send and/or receive messages to and/or fromother devices via a network such as the Internet.

Turning now to FIG. 2, FIG. 2 illustrates an example method 200 ofenhancing consumption of digital content items using two or morecomputing devices. Such a method may be tied to a computing systemincluding one or more computers, such as computing system 100 of FIG. 1.Further, such a method may be implemented as a computer application,computer service, computer API, computer library, and/or other computerprogram product.

At operation 202, method 200 comprises establishing a pairing between atleast two computing devices, wherein at least one of the two computingdevices provides a primary consumption experience of a digital contentitem. It should be appreciated that the two computing devices may be anysuitable devices configured to consume content. In some embodiments, atleast one of the two computing devices may be a portable computingdevice (e.g., a mobile communication device, a tablet computer, a laptopcomputer, a portable media player, etc.).

The pairing may be established in any suitable manner. In someembodiments, a peer-to-peer pairing may be established directly betweenthe two computing devices. However, in some cases, a network may beutilized to establish the pairing. The two computing devices may thenremain paired via the network connection. However, in other cases, thenetwork may be utilized to facilitate communication between the twodevices and establish a peer-to-peer pairing, such that upon beingpaired, the two computing devices are directly paired with one another.

By establishing the pairing, at least one of the two computing deviceslearns capabilities of the other of the two computing devices, asindicated at operation 204. In some embodiments, one computing devicemay query the other computing device for its capabilities. However, inother embodiments, a computing device may provide its capabilities tothe other device without being queried. The capabilities may be reportedover any suitable communication protocol, such as the Internet,Bluetooth, etc. It should be appreciated that such learning isnonlimiting. In some embodiments, one of the computing devices maysimply send commands to the other computing device, and the othercomputing device may choose to display or ignore the commands based onits capabilities. As such, a computing device need not “micro-manage”the actions of the other computing device.

The capabilities learned during intelligent pairing may include devicecapabilities such as processing capability, data storage capability,display capability, etc. However, in some embodiments, the capabilitiesmay include capabilities of interaction, such as bandwidth, networkavailability, etc.

The capabilities are learned so that a secondary consumption experiencecan be provided via operation of at least one of the computing devices.Such a secondary consumption experience may be, for example, a companionexperience to the primary consumption experience. The capabilitieslearned during the pairing may indicate a level of fidelity (e.g., anaudio and/or video quality, etc.) for the secondary consumptionexperience.

Continuing with FIG. 2, operation 206 includes presenting, using atleast one of the two computing devices, the digital content item forconsumption by a user. In some embodiments, such presentation of thedigital content item may be included within the primary consumptionexperience, for example.

At 208, method 200 includes performing a supplemental consumptionfunction with the other of the two computing devices, wherein thesupplemental consumption function is implemented based on capabilitiesthat have been learned during the pairing of the two computing devices.

Performing the supplemental consumption function may, for example,establish the secondary consumption experience which is then providedvia operation of at least one of the computing devices. As an example, acompanion device, upon reporting its capabilities (e.g., to thecomputing device providing the primary consumption experience, to anentertainment system, etc.), may receive (e.g., from the computingdevice providing the primary consumption experience, from theentertainment system, etc.) a secondary consumption experience that isappropriate for the capabilities of the companion device. The secondaryconsumption experience may be received over any suitable communicationprotocol, such as the Internet, Bluetooth, etc. The secondaryconsumption experience may correspond to the primary consumptionexperience, and in some cases, may even be time-synchronized with theprimary consumption experience.

As a nonlimiting example, the supplemental consumption function may beremote secondary control of one or more operations occurring inconnection with the primary consumption experience. For example, theprimary consumption experience may include presentation of the digitalcontent item on a first computing device (e.g., a television), and thesecondary consumption experience may include input control via a secondcomputing device (e.g., a portable computing device). Learningcapabilities for the second computing device during pairing ensures thatthe secondary consumption experience is configured appropriately for thesecond computing device. It should be appreciated that remote secondarycontrol is not limited to traditional remote control operations such aschannel and/or playback commands, volume commands, etc, and may includeany suitable remote controlling operations including those aiding incontent navigation and discovery. As an example, remote secondarycontrol may include navigating menus, information, etc. on a secondaryscreen (e.g., to dive deeper into a topic and/or switch topicsaltogether). As such, the primary experience associated with the primaryscreen may remain uninterrupted.

As another nonlimiting example, the supplemental consumption functionmay include presentation of content or features. It should beappreciated that such content or features may be virtually any suitablecontent or features which enhance the primary consumption experience. Inother words, such content or features may be in addition to, similar to,different than, etc. the content and/or features present in the primaryconsumption experience. Further, in some embodiments, the content orfeatures may be a subset of the content and/or features present in theprimary consumption experience, wherein the subset is configured basedon the capabilities learned during pairing of the two computing devices.Accordingly, the supplemental consumption function may be an off-loadingassumption of at least some functionality of the primary consumptionexperience to the other of the two computing devices.

FIG. 3 shows an example use scenario wherein the supplementalconsumption function is an off-loading assumption of provision of one ormore input controls controlling presentation of the content item withinthe primary consumption experience. In this example, a first consumptionexperience 300 is provided via a first computing device 302, and asecond consumption experience 304 is provided via a second computingdevice 306 which is paired with computing device 302. In this example,the second consumption experience includes remote control operation ofaspects associated with the first consumption experience 300. Duringpairing, capabilities of second computing device 306 were learned suchthat second consumption experience 304 is configured for suchcapabilities. It should be appreciated that this example is nonlimiting,and input controls may be associated with any of a variety of inputdevices, such as a game controller, a keyboard, etc.

FIG. 4 illustrates another example, wherein a primary consumptionexperience 400 at a first computing device 402 includes a gamingexperience. In this example, the supplemental consumption function is anoff-loading assumption of presentation of a head-up display (FEUD)associated with the game. As such, the HUD is presented within asecondary consumption experience 404 at a second computing device 406.

As yet other examples, the supplemental consumption function may be anoff-loading assumption establishing an interactive chat mode at acompanion device corresponding to presentation of the digital contentitem; another presentation of the content item (e.g., a “director's cut”version); a layered experience wherein additional information (layers)related to content is moved to the companion device; etc.

Further, in some cases, performing the supplemental consumption functionmay include presentation of content or features which otherwiseinterfere with the primary consumption experience if within the primaryconsumption experience. As such, the consumption experience is enhancedfor the user in that these features are moved to another device so asnot to interfere with the primary consumption experience.

It should be appreciated that scenarios having more than two computingdevices are fully included within the scope of this disclosure. Forexample, a computing device providing a primary consumption experiencemay be paired to multiple companion devices each providing differentcompanion experiences. As such, the user of companion device mayparticipate in a different enhanced experience of the primaryconsumption experience. Further, these different companion experiencesmay be contextualized to the individual consuming the secondaryexperience along with the primary experience.

In should be further appreciated that, in some embodiments, thecapabilities learned during the pairing may indicate a capability ofproviding the primary consumption experience at the other of the twodevices. In other words, the companion device may be a full-featuredlaptop, mobile communication device, etc. capable of presenting thecontent item, for example. In such a case, performing the supplementalconsumption function may include establishing presentation of theprimary consumption experience at the other of the two computingdevices. Thus, the primary consumption experience may be transferredfrom a computing device to a companion device.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example timeline of such a scenario, wherein attime t₀, a primary consumption experience 500 of a basketball game isprovided by a first computing device 502, and a secondary consumptionexperience 504 (e.g., remote control) is provided by a second computingdevice 506.

In this example, it was learned during pairing that second computingdevice 506 is capable of providing the primary consumption experience.Accordingly, at subsequent time t₁, the primary consumption experience500 is transferred to second computing device 506. As an example, user508 may have left the room where first computing device 502 is located,and in response, primary consumption experience 500 is transferred tosecond computing device 506, allowing user 508 to continue with theprimary consumption experience 500. In such a case, second computingdevice 506 acts as a master, and takes control of the primaryconsumption experience. Further, at time t₂, the user may then enter yetanother room with a third computing device 510, to which secondcomputing device 506 pairs. The primary consumption experience 500 maythen be transferred to third computing device 510 upon determining ithas sufficient capabilities, and second computing device 506 may thenprovide a secondary consumption experience 512.

Turning now to FIG. 6, FIG. 6 illustrates an example process flow 600for enhancing content consumption. At 602, pairing is attempted betweenat least two computing devices, one of which is providing a primaryconsumption experience of a digital content item. Flow then proceeds to604, where it is determined whether or not pairing has been established.If not, flow returns to 602.

However, if pairing is established, then flow proceeds to 606, wherecapabilities of the other computing device are reported. As an example,a companion device may report its capabilities to a device providing theprimary experience. Based on these capabilities, the device providingthe primary experience may determine what level of experience (e.g., alevel of fidelity of an experience) is appropriate for the companiondevice. The device providing the primary experience may share theprimary consumption experience with the companion device (e.g.,synchronously, if appropriate).

At 608, the device providing the primary experience listens for inputs.At 610, it is determined whether or not primary inputs are received atthe primary listener. If so, flow proceeds to 612 where the inputs arerendered.

Upon rendering the inputs at 612, or alternatively it is determined at610 that primary inputs are not received at the primary listener, flowproceeds to 614. At 614 it is determined whether device inputs arereceived at the other of the paired devices (e.g., a companion device).If it is determined that such device inputs are received, at 616 theinputs are reported (e.g., via a communication protocol) to the deviceproviding the primary consumption experience, and flow returns to 608.However, if it is determined that such device inputs are not received,flow returns directly to 608.

It is to be understood that the configurations and/or approachesdescribed herein are exemplary in nature, and that these specificembodiments or examples are not to be considered in a limiting sense,because numerous variations are possible. The specific routines ormethods described herein may represent one or more of any number ofprocessing strategies. As such, various acts illustrated may beperformed in the sequence illustrated, in other sequences, in parallel,or in some cases omitted. Likewise, the order of the above-describedprocesses may be changed.

The subject matter of the present disclosure includes all novel andnonobvious combinations and subcombinations of the various processes,systems and configurations, and other features, functions, acts, and/orproperties disclosed herein, as well as any and all equivalents thereof.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method of enhancing consumption ofdigital content items using two or more computing devices, the methodcomprising: establishing a pairing between two computing devicesincluding a first computing device and a second computing device,wherein at least one of the two computing devices provides a primaryconsumption experience of a digital content item, so that a secondaryconsumption experience can be provided via operation of at least one ofthe two computing devices; presenting, using at least the firstcomputing device, the digital content item for consumption by a user;determining, using at least the first computing device, a secondaryconsumption experience that has a configuration that is selected from aplurality of secondary consumption experience configurations based oncapabilities of the second computing device; sending, to the secondcomputing device, the secondary consumption experience; and performingone or more supplemental consumption functions with the second computingdevice based on the capabilities of the second computing device.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, wherein establishing the pairing includes at leastone of the two computing devices learning capabilities of the other ofthe two computing devices, the capabilities including one or more ofprocessing capability, data storage capability, and display capabilityof the other of the two devices.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein theone or more supplemental consumption functions comprise presentation ofa subset of content or features present in the primary consumptionexperience, the subset configured for the capabilities learned duringthe pairing of the two computing devices.
 4. The method of claim 2,wherein the capabilities learned during the pairing indicate a level offidelity for the secondary consumption experience, the level of fidelitycorresponding to a level of audio and/or video quality for audio and/orvideo presented in the secondary consumption experience.
 5. The methodof claim 1, wherein performing the one or more supplemental consumptionfunctions establishes the secondary consumption experience.
 6. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the one or more supplemental consumptionfunctions comprise remote secondary control of one or more operationsoccurring in connection with the primary consumption experience.
 7. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the one or more supplemental consumptionfunctions comprise presentation of content or features in addition tothose present in the primary consumption experience.
 8. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the one or more supplemental consumption functionscomprise presentation of content or features different from thosepresent in the primary consumption experience.
 9. The method of claim 1,wherein the one or more supplemental consumption functions comprise anoff-loading assumption of at least some functionality of the primaryconsumption experience to the other of the two computing devices. 10.The method of claim 9, wherein the one or more supplemental consumptionfunctions comprise an off-loading assumption of provision of one or moreinput controls controlling presentation of the digital content itemwithin the primary consumption experience.
 11. The method of claim 9,wherein the primary consumption experience includes a gaming experience,and wherein the one or more supplemental consumption functions comprisean off-loading assumption of presentation of a head-up display (HUD).12. The method of claim 9, wherein the one or more supplementalconsumption functions comprise an off-loading assumption of aninteractive chat mode corresponding to the digital content item.
 13. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the secondary consumption experience istime-synchronized with the primary consumption experience.
 14. Themethod of claim 2, wherein the capabilities learned during the pairingindicate a capability of providing the primary consumption experience,and wherein performing the one or more supplemental consumptionfunctions comprises establishing presentation of the primary consumptionexperience at the other of the two computing devices.
 15. The method ofclaim 1, wherein at least one of the two computing devices is a portablecomputing device.
 16. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing thepairing comprises establishing a peer-to-peer pairing.
 17. The method ofclaim 1, wherein establishing the pairing comprises establishing apairing via a network.
 18. A computing system for enhancing consumptionof digital content items, comprising: a pairing engine configured toestablish a pairing between two or more computing devices; apresentation engine configured to present, using at least one of the twocomputing devices, a digital content item; a supplemental consumptionfunction engine configured to perform one or more supplementalconsumption functions that are implemented based on capabilities learnedvia a pairing established via the pairing engine; a processor configuredto execute instructions; and a data-holding subsystem comprisinginstructions executable by the processor to: establish, via the pairingengine, a pairing between two computing devices including a firstcomputing device and a second computing device, wherein at least one ofthe two computing devices provides a primary consumption experience of adigital content item, and wherein establishing the pairing includes atleast the first computing device learning capabilities of the secondcomputing device so that a secondary consumption experience can beprovided via operation of at least one of the two computing devices;present, via the presentation engine, the digital content item forconsumption by a user; send a secondary consumption experience to thesecond computing device, the secondary consumption experience having aconfiguration that is selected from a plurality of configurations basedon capabilities of the second computing device; and perform, via thesupplemental consumption function engine, one or more supplementalconsumption functions with the second computing device to establish thesecondary consumption experience, wherein the one or more supplementalconsumption functions are implemented based on capabilities that havebeen learned during the pairing of the two computing devices.
 19. On afirst computing device, a method of enhancing consumption of a digitalcontent item, the method comprising: providing a primary consumptionexperience of a digital content item including presentation of thedigital content item; establishing a pairing between the first computingdevice and a second computing device via a communication protocol;learning, via the pairing, capabilities of the second computing device;determining a secondary consumption experience for the digital contentitem having a level of fidelity selected from a plurality of levels offidelity based on the capabilities of the second computing devicelearned via the pairing; and sending the secondary consumptionexperience to the second computing device via the communicationprotocol.
 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising transferringthe primary consumption experience to the second computing device.